Best Colleges in South Dakota 2026

South Dakota's top colleges blend strong technical programs with solid liberal arts education, offering students excellent career preparation at affordable costs. The state's leading institutions are dominated by public schools, with all five top-ranked colleges being state-funded technical and specialized universities. These schools excel in graduation rates, job placement, and return on investment. When evaluating South Dakota colleges, students should prioritize program strength in their chosen field, particularly in engineering, healthcare, and technical trades where the state's schools shine. With only 10 qualifying institutions statewide, students benefit from smaller class sizes and close faculty relationships. Consider factors like campus location, industry partnerships, and post-graduation employment rates when making your decision.

Schools Ranked

$47,924

Avg. Earnings

49.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 18 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, South Dakota	70.7%	$50,743		$7,524
2	Lake Area Technical College Watertown, South Dakota	63.9%	$45,473		$6,718
3	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, South Dakota	58.2%	$72,257	82.7%	$10,400
4	Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, South Dakota	50.8%	$46,709		$7,650
5	Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, South Dakota	53.1%	$40,240		$8,008
6	Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota	75.6%	$59,217	65.8%	$39,190
7	South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota	59.6%	$55,070	86.1%	$9,299
8	National American University-Rapid City Rapid City, South Dakota	60.0%	$37,325		$16,065
9	University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, South Dakota	60.5%	$54,521	76.0%	$20,740
10	Northern State University Aberdeen, South Dakota	52.2%	$47,618	78.1%	$8,845
11	Dakota State University Madison, South Dakota	49.3%	$50,970	78.9%	$9,633
12	University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota	61.4%	$51,926	99.5%	$9,432
13	Mount Marty University Yankton, South Dakota	60.6%	$48,179	68.4%	$33,100
14	Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota	46.4%	$53,728	74.8%	$32,890
15	Black Hills State University Spearfish, South Dakota	38.6%	$46,674	96.6%	$9,000
16	Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, South Dakota	13.0%	$31,546		$4,330
17	Oglala Lakota College Kyle, South Dakota	11.5%	$22,517		$2,684
18	California Intercontinental University Sioux Falls, South Dakota	10.2%			$9,054